KC-46A Pegasus
Tanker Mission Qualification Training — A / B / C
This course trains virtual tanker crews to plan and fly realistic KC-46A refueling missions in MSFS 2020/2024. Training progresses through three phases: aircraft basics and tanker fundamentals (A), mission planning and receiver support (B), and advanced scenarios with mission leadership (C).
KC-46A Focus: Modern tanker profile emphasizing automation and crew coordination. Use for Pegasus-focused events and large-force support operations. Aircraft-specific speeds and procedures apply.
B-Course — Not VSOA. Completion does not affect VATSIM qualification status. Required to operate the KC-46A under vAMC in vTAC MAJCOM tanker operations.
Course Structure — Complete A before B, B before C
Aircraft Basics + Tanker Fundamentals
Cockpit, flight procedures, tanker role, pattern setup, comms, and solo track event.
Mission Planning + Receiver Support
Data card, fuel planning, brief, track establishment, receiver flow, and complete sortie event.
Advanced Scenario + Mission Leadership
Multi-receiver, scenario injects, mission leadership, and full capstone event.
Aircraft Basics + Tanker Fundamentals
Completion standard: safe aircraft control, stable basic pattern, clear comms, and no instructor rescue required.
Cockpit Familiarization & Aircraft Systems
Complete a full cockpit familiarization covering all primary systems relevant to tanker operations: radios and comms panel, lighting systems, autopilot modes and controls, and fuel system awareness including total fuel state and transfer logic.
Graded Items: Radio panel setup, lighting configuration, autopilot mode selection and engagement, fuel state awareness, system anomaly identification.
Normal Flight Procedures
Execute a complete normal flight profile: takeoff, climb to assigned tanker altitude, cruise, descent, approach, and landing. Demonstrate manual flight proficiency and appropriate autopilot use during the steady cruise/tanker portion of the sortie. Know aircraft-specific speeds and climb profile.
Graded Items: Takeoff technique, climb profile, altitude capture, autopilot management in cruise, approach stability, landing touchdown.
Tanker Role & Anchor Pattern Fundamentals
Demonstrate understanding of the tanker's role in a refueling mission and the mechanics of the anchor/racetrack pattern. Know AR terminology: anchor point, refueling track, ARCP, ARIP, AREX, pre-contact, contact, disconnect. Understand how MSFS refueling is simulated and the unit's contact rules.
Graded Items: AR terminology recall, racetrack entry and turn execution, pattern altitude/speed/heading maintenance, MSFS contact rule knowledge.
Communications & Radio Discipline
Demonstrate proper tanker radio discipline: check-in calls, position calls, push-to-talk procedure, and brief radio flow. Includes vTAC Discord coordination and the ability to manage primary and backup comms simultaneously with ATC when applicable.
Graded Items: Correct callsign use (TEXACO 11), check-in procedure, position call timing, PTT discipline, backup comms awareness.
vTAC-A Practical Event
Launch from assigned base, climb to assigned tanker altitude, establish a simple racetrack, maintain stable speed/altitude/heading throughout the pattern, then recover and land safely. No receiver required.
Pass Standard: Safe aircraft control, stable basic pattern (±200 ft / ±10 kts / ±10°), clear comms, no instructor intervention required.
vTAC-A Complete
Pilot demonstrates basic KC-46A proficiency and tanker pattern fundamentals. Proceed to vTAC-B for mission planning and receiver support qualification.
Mission Planning + Receiver Support
Completion standard: student can plan, brief, fly, coordinate, and recover a basic KC-46A tanker mission with at least one receiver.
Tanker Data Card Construction
Build a complete tanker data card before stepping to the aircraft. All minimum items must be present. The card is your mission contract — if it's not on the card, it wasn't planned.
Minimum Card Items
Graded Items: All minimum items present and accurate, callsign correct, receiver schedule realistic, offload/contact rule defined, divert airport listed.
Fuel / Offload Planning & Weather
Plan fuel loads and offload rules for the sim event. Calculate how much fuel is available for offload after accounting for transit, tanker ops, recovery, and reserves. Identify any weather or airspace issues that affect track selection, altitude, or timing.
Graded Items: Available offload calculated, weather reviewed, airspace conflicts identified, fuel reserves protected, plan adjustments justified.
Mission Brief
Deliver a complete pre-mission brief covering: departure and transit to the track, track entry procedures, receiver flow and sequencing, contingencies (receiver delay, weather, radio failure), and recovery plan. Brief should reference the data card.
Graded Items: Brief completeness, data card accuracy, contingency coverage, time allotted per topic, questions answered confidently.
Track Establishment & Stable Platform
Arrive at the track entry point on time and establish the racetrack pattern. Maintain a stable refueling platform throughout — this means holding altitude, airspeed, and heading within standards for the entire time receivers are supported.
Platform Standards
Altitude
±200 ft
Airspeed
±10 KIAS
Heading
±10°
Track
Pattern maintained
Graded Items: On-time track entry, altitude within ±200 ft, airspeed within ±10 kts, heading within ±10°, pattern shape consistent.
Receiver Flow Management
Conduct the full receiver sequence: check-in, sequencing, pre-contact, simulated contact (per unit contact rule), disconnect, and rejoin or departure. Manage multiple receivers in queue if applicable. Use instructor/controller confirmation or timing-based transfer rules for simulated fuel transfer.
Graded Items: Receiver check-in handling, sequencing order, pre-contact clearance, contact call timing, disconnect/rejoin management, queue control.
vTAC-B Practical Event
Execute one complete KC-46A tanker sortie with at least one receiver. Includes planning, brief, launch, track establishment, receiver support, recovery, and a short debrief. All vTAC-B tasks must be demonstrated in a single integrated sortie.
Pass Standard: Student plans, briefs, flies, coordinates receiver(s), and recovers the KC-46A tanker mission independently. No instructor rescue required.
vTAC-B Complete
Pilot is qualified to conduct planned KC-46A tanker sorties with receiver support under vAMC. Proceed to vTAC-C for advanced scenarios and mission leadership qualification.
Advanced Scenario + Mission Leadership
Completion standard: student leads the event, adapts to changes, keeps comms clean, and debriefs lessons learned.
Multi-Receiver / Multi-Period Planning
Plan a tanker mission supporting multiple receivers or multiple tanker periods within the same sortie. Demonstrate timing control and deconfliction — each receiver must have a scheduled window that does not create conflicts on the track or in the pattern.
Graded Items: Receiver schedule built and deconflicted, offload budget allocated per receiver, track period timing realistic, data card updated for multi-receiver flow.
Mission Leadership & Crew Role Assignment
Lead the mission brief and assign crew roles prior to stepping: pilot flying (PF), pilot monitoring (PM), boom operator or observer, and radio lead. Ensure each crew member understands their responsibilities for the sortie before engine start.
Graded Items: Brief leadership quality, role assignments clear and understood, responsibilities communicated before step, questions addressed confidently.
Asset Coordination & Change Management
Coordinate changes with receivers, controllers, and other virtual assets during the mission. This includes relaying updated timing, handling receiver delays, renegotiating contact windows, and keeping all parties informed of track or schedule changes.
Graded Items: Proactive comms on changes, receiver re-sequencing when delayed, controller coordination for track modifications, no receivers left uninformed.
Scenario Inject Response
The IP will introduce scenario injects during the mission. Respond correctly to at least two. Demonstrate that you can adapt the mission in real time without losing track stability, comms discipline, or receiver support.
Possible Injects
Graded Items: Inject recognition speed, appropriate response, comms to affected parties, track stability maintained during adaptation, at least 2 injects handled.
vTAC-C Capstone Event
Build and brief a complete mission package, launch, establish track, support multiple receivers, handle two IP-injected scenarios, recover, and lead the debrief. This is the full end-to-end demonstration of KC-46A tanker leadership.
Pass Standard: Student leads the event, adapts to changes, keeps comms clean, supports all receivers, handles both injects, and debriefs lessons learned.
vTAC-C Complete — KC-46A Tanker Qualified
Pilot is fully qualified for KC-46A tanker operations under vAMC, including large-force events and mission command. All phase completions are logged in your vTAC qualification record.